Abstract
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a prevalent chronic disease caused by various factors, significantly impact patients' quality of life due to prolonged healing times and increased infection risks. Current treatment modalities, including pharmacological, physical, and surgical interventions, often yield limited efficacy and adverse effects, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. The objective of this research is to create SIKVAV-modified chitosan hydrogels with the intention of improving the process of skin wound healing in diabetic mice. We synthesized the hydrogels and established a diabetic mice model with skin wounding to evaluate its healing effects and underlying mechanisms. The results of our study indicate that the SIKVAV-modified chitosan hydrogels markedly enhance the wound healing process in diabetic mice. This effect may be attributed to several mechanisms, including differentiation of fibroblasts, proliferation of keratinocytes, the promotion of angiogenesis, stimulation of collagen synthesis, upregulation of growth factor expression, and possible involvement of the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. This research not only provides a new biomaterial for the treatment of diabetic wounds but also elucidates the related molecular mechanisms involved in wound healing of DFUs, offering valuable insights for future clinical applications.